E-l Adon

The Shulchan Aruch, Code of Jewish Law, states in the laws of Shabbat (OH 281:1) that on Shabbat morning, when one is less burdened with worldly responsibilities, it is customary to express greater amounts of praise then one does during the week. This is evident in the next poem we recite – “E-l Adon Al Kol Hamaasim” , “G-d is the Master over all of creation…”.
E-l Adon is an acrostic whereby every phrase of the prayer begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Anaf Yosef explains that the poem is written in eleven clauses; each clause is made up of two phrases whose opening letters form the acrostic. The first clause contains ten words, the last clause contains twelve words and the middle nine clauses contain eight words, which equals seventy two words in the middle. The Abudraham (1340,Spain) explains the
significance of the numbers. The seventy two letters correspond to the seventy two letter ineffable name of G-d, the
opening ten words correspond to the Ten Commandments, and the twelve concluding words reflect the Twelve Tribes
of Israel. The encrypted message is that G-d revealed the Ten Commandments (The Torah) to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

The content of the poem presents A) the sheer majesty and exquisiteness of the earth’s solar system and the heavens above, and B) that by each of the pieces of Creation – the sun, the moon, the planet – playing their role by rising, setting, and orbiting, they are in essence singing G-d’s praises.
It has been previously explained in our section on Kaballat Shabbat, archived at www.oucommunity.org (The Tefillah
Initiative), that Shabbat is like a weekly wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. There is a relevant and poignant
imagery presented in the Siddur Beit Yaakov on the phrase “Daat Utevunah Sovivim Ohto”, “knowledge and wisdom
surround Him”: It is like a bride that encircles a groom under the Chuppah, wedding canopy. Additionally, later in the
prayer when describing the daily rising and setting of the heavenly luminaries, it states, “Semaychim Betzaytam Vesosim Bivoam Osim Beaymah Ritzon Konam”, “Glad as they go forth, and joyous as they return”. The commentaries here direct us to Psalms, which compares a radiant sunrise to a beaming bridegroom under the wedding canopy. Every movement in the heavens above provides light, energy, and warmth to us and serves G-d in the process.
Finally, The Baruch Sheamar (1860-1941 Lithuania) explains the difference between the words “Sasson”, “glad”, and
“Simcha”, “joyous”, mentioned above. Simcha is the joy experienced when beginning a new adventure. Sasson is the
joy experienced when recognizing you have accomplished and fulfilled your goal.
It is our task to gain inspiration from the great Solar System above. To not only see its complexity, beauty, and power,
but also to recognize that it is the handiwork of G-d and performs its unique service unto Him every day. So too, every
day we rise in the morning and settle down at night, and throughout our daily orbit, we try to unleash our own unique
potential to bring light and energy to our world.

Like this article?

Sign up for our Shabbat Shalom e-newsletter, a weekly roundup of inspirational thoughts, insight into current events, divrei torah, relationship advice, recipes and so much more!